Friday, September 29, 2017

Public presentation scheduled to discuss plans to raise the Low Battery

Whatcha doing Oct. 4?

Strategy two for the Low Battery involves raising the walkway 2.5 feet

If the massive flooding experienced along the Battery during Tropical Storm Irma was any indication of what’s to come, the city of Charleston faces an increasing threat from rising tides.

Plans are currently in progress to raise the seawall along the Low Battery in preparation for an estimated 2.5 feet of sea-level rise over the coming decades. Following a public input period this past summer, city staff are prepared to present an update on the Low Battery Seawall Project on Wed. Oct. 4 from 6-8 p.m. in Memminger Auditorium.

For an in-depth look at how the Low Battery project ties into the city’s overall resiliency efforts, check out the City Paper’s feature from July where we spoke with City Planner Jacob Lindsey about what to expect in the years to come. Next week’s meeting will offer residents a chance to see the Low Battery design process and the design alternative that is being considered. As Lindsey said in July, improving the overall resiliency of Charleston will likely be the primary focus of local government for at least the next 50 years.

“This is a critical project for the city of Charleston,” Mayor John Tecklenburg said of the proposed changes to the Low Battery. “I look forward to working with council, city staff, and residents to get construction underway as quickly as possible.”